The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-03-11


Abalfd dozen managers succeeded each other,
and their aggregate losses for tho first season
ware over $4,000. Then, as ever after the
managers blamed their luck on the system of
box holders having free admission. Four
shares gave the holder q box and single
share savo him . seat There was a capital
stock OF t2OO, 900 in 200 shares Maretzek,
the Strakoschs, the Graus and Mapleson all
blamed the system and kept throwing the
dice in the gamble Of opera management A
following season saw the first performance Of
oSemiramide," on Oct. 30, 1855, and Of I'll
Trovatoro" on April 30, 1856, and in the fol-
lowing year, with such artists as Brignoh,
Amodoi, Vestvsli La Grange and Badiali,
many operas we're produced for the first time
in America Piccolomini came i'll October,
1853. and in the winter Of that year Altman
and Strakosch took the helm, and on Nov "a,
1858 introduced the peerless, perennial Patti in
Lucia Jacob Grau in 1859 had a chance at
thee sademy and put "Dnorab" on the stage.
The war came, and people had 10 taste
for opera or surplus money to spend on it.
On May 81, 1866, the building went up in
flames Maretzek had had lease Of several
years, and Gazzani.a Kellogg, Phillips and
Ronconi had appeared. December 1863, saw
German opera under Carl Arschurz, and on
the "a Fle~tow'S "Stradellan was given
it, first performance. On the 18th Of No
vember preceding the opera Of 'Faust," had
been given the first Of its many per-
formanceS in America, with Clara Louise
Kellogg as the Marguerite ola Juive"
had been the opera on the night of the fire,
which swept into one OF the biggest cOnflag-
rati0ns the city has seen in recent years. The
building which had cost $3.50 200, was in
sured FOR $3.50, 900, and the stockholders stood
a heavy assessment, and in March, 1867, the
academy had been rebuilt and was ready for
occupancy. The first performance was
masked ball for the benefit of the
unfortunate Maretzek. "Ths Barber" was
the first opera, with Miss Hauk in a
minor part; 1870 had DAILY as a manager,
with Janauschek in heavy tragedy; 1871
saw fine opera, under the management Of
Max and Maurice StrakoSch. Nilsson sang
in "MgnOn," and in 1872 Lucca came in
"LAfricains," and in 1879 "Lohengrin' and
Aida were given, and Campanini made his
first appearance on Oct ] ia "Lucrezia."
Salvini also used the academy. In 1915 Hess
tried English opera, and in the spring Of
1876 Tietjens sang with Brignoli. In 1873
German opera was again tried, with Pappen-
helm. MapleSOn then came with all his mill
tary blow and buster 10 give the later gener-
alton Of box holders opera with many Of the old
favorites Hs began on Oct IL, 1873, with
Hauk and Campanini in La Travata" His
second year saw Gerster, and in 1850 ANDRE
and Valera were singing. In 1881 Patti re-
turned and for three opera seasons was the
MapleSon star of success. othen demanded
a big subsidy, and, not getting it, left the
academy TO its rapid decline. Jan. A. 1886,
was the date Of the advent of the American
Opera company.
Apart from opera the academy has been
for twenty years the place whore the Phil
harmonic concerts were given, while the
catalogue OF the monster meetings which
have been held there would fill a column.
The academy has, too, been the scene Of
many grand balls and assemblies, and the
artist has given picture Of one Of these
above.